Why you should be careful about taking health advice from social media | 7MOQTX3 | 2024-04-28 14:08:01
A readily available source that can help us to identify troubling symptoms does have its benefits, but sometimes the information we find on social media can be hindrance, as much as a help. So where does the line sit? It depends where the information comes from, according to Jordan Vyas-Lee, psychotherapist and co-founder of mental-health care clinic, Kove.
"Social media is not a good source of medical information," he explains. "What we read on social media comes with no guarantee of validity, since information can be shared by non-experts, which is not then moderated. The issue with these videos is that you don't necessarily know who is presenting the material — often a lay person is speaking on health issues, rather than a qualified professional."
Psychoanalytic psychotherapist Anna Sergent believes that health information on social media can be a real force for good, as long as it's accurately represented.
"Information is power when it comes to health but it does depend on what we do with it and if it is evidence-based," she says. "From my perspective, it is positive that health professionals are being active on social — as long as they are qualified and experienced medical professionals who present the information in a measured and factual way."
There are some situations in which social media can be a useful source when it comes to health concerns, and it may help us identify conditions or concerns we might otherwise have missed. Treatment for women's health issues in particular is woefully underserved; many women feel they haven't been taken seriously in the doctor's office, and medical students only officially began training in women's health issues in 2022.
In the end, it turned out that I was right: I have been diagnosed with PCOS — as suspected — and have adapted my life to manage it. I knew in my gut that something was wrong, and there's a lot to be said for following that. Though using social media to self-diagnose can undoubtedly be dangerous in some cases, I can't help but feel that for me, it was helpful. I had been to the doctor about my symptoms on many occasions, like countless other women — but would I have advocated for myself quite so much without the information my Instagram feed had armed me with?
"It's important that more women [speak openly about] their specific health issues," says Sergent. "Nowadays, topics around female health are less of a taboo and women seem more comfortable speaking openly about their struggles with infertility, pregnancy, miscarriage, or menopause."
"What we read on social media comes with no guarantee of validity"
Normalising otherwise hidden experiences is a clear benefit of social media use, and Vyas-Lee agrees that this can be powerful. "Social media provides a good outlet for people to express things, and allows for dissemination of information to the masses. Celebrities putting out information around how they feel normalises otherwise hidden issues."
There's no doubt that the shattering of taboo health topics is a great thing, but monitor your activity and be aware of checking your symptoms too obsessively. Always research whether sources are reliable; Vyas-Lee's advice is to stick to those who draw from research and evidence. "Big reputable organisations and charities tend to disseminate the best guidance," he says. In short, feel free to use social media as a starting point when it comes to any health concerns, but be cautious about placing too much trust in what you find online. And, when in doubt, seek real, concrete medical advice — an actual doctor will usually be far more helpful than a TikTok user espousing tips from their bedroom.
Related: Eight signs you may have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
This article originally appeared on Harper's BAZAAR UK.
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</div> The post Why you should be careful about taking health advice from social media appeared first on Harper's Bazaar Australia.
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